Sorry about the references. This was copied from The West Wing forum (the contrubution guide in the forum). Pieces were also copied from Weeds forum (the contribution guide in that forum). I'm working on specializing it for the Grey's Anatomy guide. (I say that now and then I don't exactly update the links and stuff. Look at the pilot episode for a great example of everything I'm about to say. Sorry that the color scheme is off.)

If you have any questions after you finish reading this guide feel free to PM me.

The first post is the Contribution Guide. It's creation is based on errors I've often seen made by contributors.

The second thread is the list of Forum Rules. It's creation is based on rules I seen repeatedly broken by forum posters in this forum and others. This forum is also subject to all TV.com forum rules.

Good example of what I'm about to say below: here.
Another good example: here.

Here's a thread that details the well-known bugs that frequently occur on the site. I believe everyone will find the first post very helpful: Known Bugs.

Please include sources when submitting episode names, episode air dates, production codes, trivia, notes, and allusions.

Summary:
Spoilers do not belong in summaries. If you want to provide a summary for an episode that hasn't aired yet please include a source so that I can verify it. Do not copy summaries verbatim from other websites. Unless it is a basic episode summary that is less than 200 words in length and does not give away any major surprises, major plot details, or major relationship developments. Major surprises, major plot details, or major relationship developments belong in recaps.

Recap Advice:
You'd be surprised how everything, even the most insignificant things, can become a joke later on in the series. In the end I would prefer it if you covered every scene, although if you were to skip a scene where someone walks to bathroom I really wouldn't have a problem with it. It doesn't need to be word for word but it should be comprehensive and correct.

Great Examples:
"You Can't Miss The Bear"
"Commencement"
"7A WF 83429"
"The Dogs of War"

Try to stick to the widely accepted names for certain locations (Outer Oval Office, Communications Office, Josh's Bullpen). [Note: Don't have a list of widely accepted name for this show yet but when I start finding consensi I'll post them here and/or in my blog.] I can say that Joe's bar is called the Emerald City Bar.

Just because you don't see the line breaks in the preview doesn't mean they won't be there if or when the recap gets published.

Make sure there isn't already a recap. If you're going to do quite a few at once PM me and I find a way to notify others who frequently recap episodes so that you don't do a whole bunch of work only to have it rejected.

I would recommend that you do your recaps in a word processor first, Microsoft Word for example. When working on the submission page there is no way to save your work and if something goes wrong with the computer of the website all your hard work will be lost. Also using a word processor allows you to use a spell check. Also if I reject your recap you will have a copy on hand.

I usually have a script beside me when I do a recap to help me keep up with everything that's going on and to make sure that quotes are accurate. Either that or I have the episode popped into my VCR/DVD Player. If you would like to do this I would recommend buying an official script book. Do not download unofficial and/or unauthorized episode transcripts (or encourage others to do so as it would violate the TOS). Violating the TOS is BAD! Besides violating the TOS by encouraging others to download illegal transcripts in any way, it is known that sometimes unofficial transcripts are unreliable and have false or inaccurate information. And inaccurate information is something I do not, I repeat DO NOT, want in any of my guides.

I am not accepting transcripts for recaps as it would be considered and act of theft and a violation of the TOS.

Allusions:
For the many people who do not seem to know what an allusion is:

defn. from Writers, Inc.
"Allusion is a comparison of two or more similar objects, suggesting that if they are alike in certain respects, they will probably be alike in other ways as well."

defn. from Merriam-Webster Online (www.m-w.com)
"an implied or indirect reference especially in literature; also : the use of such references"

defn. from Answers.com
"1. The act of alluding; indirect reference: Without naming names, the candidate criticized the national leaders by allusion.
2. An instance of indirect reference: an allusion to classical mythology in a poem."

defn. from http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/allusion.html
"Allusion is a brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or ficticious, or to a work of art. Casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. An allusion may be drawn from history, geography, literature, or religion. Example: Stephen Vincent Benet's story 'By the Waters of Babylon' contains a direct reference to Psalm 137 in the Bible."

It's A Thin Line Between Trivia and Notes:
Some guides use Trivia for goofs only, but I feel that some things, like little snippets of info you wouldn't know otherwise belong there also because it's the kind of stuff you would find in a trivia game. These things exist in the gray area between Trivia and Notes.

Examples:
How many actresses have played Buffy
Who was originally supposed to play Sydney Bristow
Sam Seaborn's middle name
How many times Ross and Rachel have dated
How many actresses were offered the role of Susan Meyer before Teri Hatcher

In the end you will have to use your own judgment. (And then it will be subject to mine. If I feel you've misplaced I will reject it and offer you the chance to resubmit it.)

In general, things like "This is the episode where [Main Character #42] has a baby" or "[Reoccuring character #16] is 34 years old" are little tidbits we find out while watching an episode and therefore belong in a recap. Another example of this is "We learn that George can play the clarinet and Preston (Dr. Burke) can play the trumpet."

Notes:
Things that clearly belong in notes are:
Whether or not an actor appeared in an episode
Someone's first time playing a recurring role
Music Featured in this Episode
Awards and Nominations for that episode
International Airdates
Ratings

Please use the proper format for all of these things. The proper format can be found in the pilot episode.

* wrote:

Music Featured in this Episode: 1. "Careless Love" by Madeline Peyroux plays when Alex is yelling at George. 2. "I Hate Everyone" by Get Set Go plays when Meredith and Derek are walking their dog. 3. "Be Gentle With Me" by Boy Least Likely To plays when Addison is setting up her patient to go into the MRI machine. 4. "Throw It All Away" by Brandi Carlile plays when George goes shopping for tampons. 5. "Slow Down" by New Moscow plays when Cristina and Burke are out on a date in the restaurant.

*I made those scenes up/Those scenes don't have those songs.

Trivia:
Things that clearly belong in trivia are:
Goofs

Quotes:

In the future this is what will be considered the proper format for quotes: wrote:

Deven: Don't even talk to me weirdo. Shane: Why? I was just trying to help. Deven: I don't need you're help lipstick. Shane (checking himself out for lipstick): Lipstick? Deven: Your fruit punch lipstick. Fruit punch! It's perfect. Fruit for the fruit. Or are you just pretending it's blood? Because we all know how much you love the taste of blood. Is that it? Vampire! Shane: Ok, I'm confused. Am I weirdo, lipstick, fruit punch, or vampire? You should really need to pick an insulting nickname and stick to it. Deven: How bout orphan boy? Shane throws a drink at him. Deven (standing up): I'm gonna kill you!

another good example: wrote:

C.J. (muffled): Josh. Josh: What the hell happened? C.J.: I had woot canaw. Josh: What happened to your cheeks? C.J.: I had woot canaw. Josh: Why are you talking like that? C.J. (louder): I had woot canaw! Josh: Yeah, I heard you the first time, I was just amusing myself. C.J.: I can suggest some othew things you can do wiff yourseff.

Just because you don't see the line breaks in the preview doesn't mean they won't be there if or when the quote gets published.

If your quote isn't funny or heartbreaking it will most likely get rejected.

As a general rule, don't make your quotes longer than 10 exchanges. It's supposed to be a quote; not a verbatim copy of the script.

Spaces go in between format tags. This is needed so that things don't show up crowded when they get published to the guide.

On December 23, 2005 the quotes section of season one will be closed. If you have a typos you want to fix or things you'd like to add I suggest you get to it. This policy is the result of spam submissions that I am continually forced to moderate. Several users are submitting things that are alrady in the quotes sections or are submitting to the wrong episode or are full of typos or are using the wrong format. By installing this policy I hope to reduce the number of submissions that I have to reject and/or the work I am forced to do.

This topic is up for debate until December 20, 2005.

Season One includes the first 9 episodes of the show only.

Cast:
If you know of a name missing in the show stars lists please contact me so that I can add it.

For indivivdual episodes the guide should reflect the way the credits roll. Even if somebody's name is in the opening credits but they aren't in that particular episode they should be listed (under show stars/as part of the cast). If you can provide me with 2 sources for an uncredited actor they may be added to the list also.

When someone appears in the credits but they don't appear in the episode enter a submission about it in the notes section.

Sara Ramirez is credited as Calliope "Callie" Torres
Steven W. Bailey is credited as Joe the Bartender

If you don't know someone's character name but they are listed in the credits listed their character as a dash or "-".

Becoming a Trusted User:
Please don't ask. It puts me in a bad place from a PR standpoint and it comes off as tacky. If I want to appoint you a trusted user I'll ask you.

Guidelines:
1. Need to have at least 40 points (TV.com standard).
2. Need to be one of the top 5 contributors (TV.com standard).
3. Need to see 60 points worth of submissions from you while I am editor.
4. Need to take a test that I will set up to make sure that you know the show and my submission guidelines.
5. Finally, it is still within my discretion to decide when and if I will appoint someone a trusted user.

Commonly Misspelled Words:
"Cristina" as Christina
"Bailey" as Baily
"Shepherd" as Sheperd, Shepperd, Sheppard, Shephard
"Meredith" as Meridith, Meredeth, Mirideth
"Grey" as Gray (as in Meredith Grey's last name)
"Ellis" as Elles, Alice, Elis, Eles, Elice
"Derek" as Derec
"George" as Geroge
"A lot" as Alot

(The ones in quotes are the correct spellings.)

Please check your submission against the list on the cast page to make sure that you spelled the name correctly.

Common Reasons That May Be Why Your Submission Was Rejected:
You didn't bother to spell check.
You don't listen to repeated warnings.
You didn't format your submission at all.
You didn't format your submission correctly.
Trailing returns at the end of your submission.
You submitted to wrong area (Trivia vs. Allusions).
You forgot that show titles go in italics.
You forgot that episode titles go in quotation marks.
You forgot that unless in the quotes or allusion section character or actor names do not go in anything.
You forgot that scripted lines do not get italicized, bolded, or put in quotation marks.
You forgot that the names of character in the quotes section should be bolded.
Your submitted quote is neither funny nor heartbreaking.
Your quote is filler in the episode.
Your quote lacks appropriate context.

Other Advice:
Submit a few (as in less than 10) submissions the first time you want to add stuff to an episode so that you can figure out if you are following the directions first. This way you decrease your risk of receiving rejections.

If you submit something and I reject it don't assume I wasn't reading what you wrote and then just resubmit it again. That's not just naive, it's spamming.

Spoilers belong in the forums. If you submit a spoiler in an episode summary or recap of an episode that hasn't aired yet I will reject it. Unless it is a basic episode summary that is less than 200 words in length and does not give away any major (MAJOR) surprises, major plot details, or major relationship developments.

I have no problem with users adding links to musicians official websites along with the reference in the music section. Just make sure it is the official website.

No advertising of illegal activities such as places to download music or episodes will be tolerated.

Do things in your own words. Copying show summaries from other locations, even the official site, will be considered theft and a violation of the TOS.

I have no control over they things under the News, Videos, Pictures, Similar, Downloads, or Reviews tabs. I also have no control over podcasts. If you see a problem contact a staff member (there's a list in the Unofficial FAQ) and please copy the message to me. But I cannot change anything under the aforementioned tabs. Editors have no power over what appears under those tabs. I cannot reprimand anyone for putting anything reprehensible under those tabs. I don't know how much more clear I can make the fact that I have no power over what happens under those tabs.

"Begin the Begin" is episode 13 and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" is episode 12 and "Tell Me Sweet Little Lies" is episode 14. "Straight to the Heart" is not counted as part of the episode count because it is a special. Neither ABC nor any other source counts it in the episode count. It is listed with the same numbers as "Begin the Begin" (excluding the production number) because the "Special" episode option still does not work in terms of placing the episode in its own "season" which would be marked "Other". Bother the staff with this issue since it is one I cannot fix. If you want to submit info to any guide when it shares an episode lifetime or season number with another guide then you should add a ".5" to the end of the numbers. A similar situation occurs with the recap episode "Under Pressure."

Here at the Grey's Anatomy guide we use the USA spelling not the UK spelling of words.

Things that a show specific and not episode specific do not belong in the pilot episode. TV.com currently has no where to put those things. If you really want them to be noted PM me. I put show awards in the show summary.

New Feature:
I need to know that people are reading this thread. If you plan on contributing to Grey's Anatomy You'll want to pay attention. I will be using a "process code" in the future for this show. If you want to contribute to the show you will need to know it and it will change each month. The only way to find it is to check in with the thread. If you submit enough correctly formatted and informed submissions I will give you a special code. You won't have to check this thread for the code and your submissions will be streamlined. It's not trusted user status but it's better than being a regular user.

February's Process Code: 2230
March's Process Code: 6712

Include the process code in your comments section when submitting along with any other comments. This will be more strictly enforced starting in March. 99% of the time, not including submission will result in rejection. Spread the word.

The only people exempt are those under level 6. I will be assuming that these site newbies are not aware of the policy that you should read an editor's contribution guide before contributing to the guide and I will go easy on them for this reason. When you level 7 is when that 99% thing goes in scrict effect.

Please include sources when submitting episode names, episode air dates, production codes, trivia, notes, and allusions.

Thanks for your time.

Announcements:

1. International Airdates: If someone could add the years to the airdates that would be great. Thanks!

2. Please don't submit anything that isn't about the March 12, 2006 episode until after March 15, 2006. I am expecting an overload of user submissions from Grey's Anatomy and the West Wing and I have a lot of work to catch up on. I will be checking my queue but a lot less than usual until Friday. If you have any submissions for the episode airing on the Sunday feel free to submit them at any time. If you submissions for any other episodes please wait until after Wednesday to submit them.

3.
Spoilers Only Thread
Specualtion Only Thread
Spoliers mixed with Speculation Thread

Two Weeks Ago's Episode "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" February 26, 2006
Last Week's Episode "Band Aid Cover's The Bullet Hole" March 12, 2006
This Week's Episode"Superstition"

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

What if the only source you have when submitting a music title and artist is your brain? Like, you hear it on the show and you know the song....

Ok, so like if I submit a quote, like for comments I'll put like "great quote and the code#"? I just wanna make sure this is what you mean.

Please don't submit anything that isn't about the March 12, 2006 episode until after March 15, 2006. I am expecting an overload of user submissions from Grey's Anatomy and the West Wing and I have a lot of work to catch up on. I will be checking my queue but a lot less than usual until Friday. If you have any submissions for the episode airing on the Sunday feel free to submit them at any time. If you submissions for any other episodes please wait until after Wednesday to submit them.

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

April: 5543

Announcement:

Those not complying with the process code action will have their submissions rejected. You are expected to read an editor's contribution guide before contributing to a guide they edit. Those not complying with the process code action will have their submissions rejected.

No more new episodes to watch for awhile but the are lots of empty spaces around here. I am inviting you all to participate in a discussion on how to complete all the empty spaces in this guide. Please go to my blog and read the discussion. You help is needed and appreciated.